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The Edmonton Oilers 4–3 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday night added to their string of mixed results this season. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins meanwhile recorded a goal and an assist to extend his point streak to four games as the team again showed flashes of its offensive potential, before falling just short of a second point. Through 10 games this season, the veteran forward has quietly become one of Edmonton’s steadiest contributors with 11 points (five goal and six assists) despite the team’s uneven start and Head Coach Kris Knoblauch was quick to acknowledge the consistency that has defined his early campaign. Knoblauch points out difference in Nugent-Hopkins’ offensive production When asked about Nugent-Hopkins’ steady play to start the season, Knoblauch pointed to his adaptability and value across every situation. “Ryan is a very versatile player,” Knoblauch said post-game. “Whether you want him in a defensive checking role, playing centre or left wing up on the top line, first-unit power play, first part of the penalty kill, he’s utilized in a lot of situations. As a coach, you really appreciate those kinds of players, and it’s nice to see him get the offence that he has this year.” Knoblauch noted that last season’s dip in finishing touch where Nugent-Hopkins managed just 67 points in 82 games after posting 104 the year prior was less about lack of effort and more about luck. “I think last year he was a little snake-bitten,” he said. “He was getting the chances but not getting the production he probably should have had. This year it’s been a little more in his favour.” Early trends suggest exactly that Nugent-Hopkins is averaging over two points per game and has been a slid presence on both special-teams units. His four-game streak includes multi-point efforts in three of those contests which is more of a rebound toward his 2022–23 form. Nuget-Hopkins opines on Oilers offence For Nugent-Hopkins, the result in Vancouver was more about missed opportunity than personal milestones. “We worked hard to get to that point,” he said of the third-period comeback that forced overtime. “Obviously you want to get that second point. Thought we created a lot of offence, just couldn’t get much by him [Demko] especially early but we stuck with it and did a good job of battling.” The Oilers’ offence despite flashes of dominance remains streaky. They scored three in regulation Sunday, but continue to chase games after sluggish starts and defensive breakdowns. Nugent-Hopkins acknowledged that rhythm and execution remain works in progress. “We end up getting three tonight, but it hasn’t been easy as of late… just a few little breakdowns that we all know we can correct.” Nuget-Hopkins looking at the “positives” For all the frustration of another narrow loss, Edmonton’s blueprint remains quit recognizable in their fair top-six production, lapses in defensive detail, and an experienced core capable of steadying the group when adversity hits. Sunday’s loss closed out a demanding travel stretch something the 31-year-old veteran believes can still yield positives. “In some ways it can bring a group together,” he said. “You spend so much time together, so you’ve got to try to look at the positives out of it… There’s no excuse. We’ve just got to find ways to get energy and feed off each other.”
